The Press Club of India, along with four journalist bodies – the Indian Women's Press Corp, the Editors’ Guild of India, Delhi Union Journalists, and DIGIPUB – will organise an open meeting on Monday to discuss the contentious Digital Personal Data Protection Act, which the Government of India is set to notify soon.
PCI, IWPC, DIGIPUB, EGI, and DUJ request all members to join for an #Open meeting to discuss the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, set to be notified soon by the Government of India.
— Press Club of India (@PCITweets) April 18, 2025
Date: April 21, 2025 (Monday)
Time: 4PM
Venue: The Press Club of India lawn pic.twitter.com/LeTj05w2Kd
Last month, rights activists had expressed concerns against the implementation of the DPDP Act, accusing the government of using provisions of the new legislation to weaken the Right to Information. In 2023, Newslaundry had reported on the provisions of the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill 2022 that could compromise investigative reportage, with the government removing exemptions from data protection obligations for journalistic work.
The meeting, which will be held at the Press Club in Delhi, will feature a discussion on how the new legal provisions could hamper press freedom. The meeting will also analyse the proposed penalty clause of Rs 250 crore, which can go up to Rs 500 crore against an individual or entity if the DPDP Board appointed by the government deems fit.
“Worldwide, such laws exempt journalists, and our endeavour is also to ensure that this Act also exempts the professional work of journalists. We are hoping to seek an appointment with the minister concerned for a meeting at the earliest to take forward the joint decisions taken at the open meeting on the matter,” stated Gautam Lahiri, president of PCI, on X.
Lahiri called it a joint fight for press freedom. “We would go ahead with the aid and advice of all stakeholders and if needed, should reach out to press clubs in other parts of the country too to make our voice stronger.”
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